To provide a means for departments to offer employees excused leave without pay when exceptional circumstances (such as education, research, travel, family or other unusual personal needs) necessitate.

The University will consider requests for unpaid leaves of absences for one to twelve months from regular employees who have at least one year of continuous service with the University.

1. Request for leave must be submitted to the employee's department supervisor in writing on a leave of absence request form, specifying the reason for the request and duration, at least three months in advance.
2. Approval of the leave request does not guarantee job reinstatement; however, the University will make an effort to reinstate the employee to the same or a comparable job if available. If no job is available, the employee will be placed on a preferential hiring list for a period not to exceed three months. If the employee is not placed at the end of the three month extension, the employee will be terminated
3. In deciding on a leave request, the department should consider the current level of activity, the availability of replacements, along with the employee's job performance, attendance and the necessity for the request.
4. Reinstatement after a leave is at the discretion of the University.
5. An employee who has been assured reinstatement to a position and fails to return to work at the expiration of the leave, shall be terminated as of the last day of the leave of absence.
6. Extension of leaves may be requested.
7. Personal leaves begin when accrued vacation and personal holidays have been exhausted.
8. Where the employee is reinstated, the employee's service will be bridged.
9. Under all circumstances, the leave of absence form must be properly signed by the employee and the supervisor and copies maintained by each.
10. Medical and dental insurance must be maintained for three months if the employee wishes to have immediate coverage upon return to work without waiting for the next open enrollment. During the first three months, the employee pays the employee rate. Thereafter, the employee pays the full cost of the coverage.
11. Long-term disability, life, and personal accident insurance may be maintained at the employee's option.
12. During an approved personal leave, an employee participating in the Retirement Income Plan for Employees (ERIP) will not continue to contribute, but the previously credited income will not be affected.
13. The employee cannot participate in a Flexible Spending Account.
14. Accrued sick leave remains intact.
15. Paid time-off accruals cease.